140 Scrapstores

Substantial quantities of clean
commercial waste, at present consigned to landfill, can be given a second useful
life.

Until recently, few distribution
arrangements existed. This is changing with the development of a network of community scrapstores
able to collect, store and distribute many kinds of reusable materials.
Some also collect recyclable waste or unwanted goods with
residual value. For many businesses, this can provide free disposal of a proportion
of waste, at the same time offering benefits to the community, and so being a
more responsible option than disposal to landfill or incineration, together with
opportunities for good publicity.

Scrapstores collect from commerce
and industry, sort and provide craft materials for those organising creative activities.
Playgroups, schools, other educational bodies; care homes; theatre groups; craft centres; individual
artists - all have the capacity to use an enormous variety of packaging or
production oddments
such as wood, plastic and fabric offcuts; paper, film and card.

"Scrapstores are making a huge contribution to counter the environmental and
educational dilemmas we're facing in the UK today"Jonathon Porritt, Environmentalist

Scrapstores are now also regularly
exchanging large amounts of materials between themselves, to meet local needs
and put to use any excess materials. This is a result of the network
growing and becoming stronger.

Most schemes are operated by volunteers,
sometimes with help from local councils, businesses or community trusts.
A common
arrangement is for part funding by annual subscriptions from associated organisations
and individuals, providing controlled access to stock materials at no further
charge. Many now have small shops selling art and craft materials, and often run
workshops on creative use of scrap materials. Some are growing rapidly,
and having a wide influence on culture and attitudes in their region.

Over 90 different schemes now operate
in Britain, with scope for many more - ideally one in every district or major
town. Apart from a listing for the south-east of England, the area THE WASTEBOOK
covers, we include several elsewhere which act as regional centres, or
demonstrate good practice or
innovation. That said, most are run by innovative and community-minded
people - sadly, we cannot provide a national directory of all these worthwhile
schemes on this site, but a list is available from www.home-education.org.uk/scrap.htm,
from www.scrapstore.org.ukor
from Bristol (see next paragraph).
These sources do not list information about each scrapstore and their activities
as we do below!

Charity established 1982, mainly for use by groups in
the old Avon county area, in art, craft, play, educational or therapeutic
settings with children, eg parent and toddler groups, holiday play schemes,
childminders, youth theatre groups, brownies, community arts groups, schools,
colleges, supply teachers. Various membership rates. Prefers delivery, but can
collect interesting, safe, clean, colourful, versatile scrap materials from
local business and industry as aresource
for children's art and play activities. Can take 20 or 30 pallets of suitable
scrap at a time, with space for approximately 120.Size and turnover of materials varies enormously - eg
handheld electronic games and children’s books.Materials - both available and wanted - listed on website, from coloured
foil, paint, netting and tubing to CD roms, old records and corks.Open Mon, Tue 10-5, Wed 10-8.Warehouse
designed as a scrap supermarket, with colourful aisles, shelves and barrels full
of fabric, plastic, card and wood offcuts.Members can fill a trolley with scrap for £9, and get 20% discount from
the 'Artrageous' art & craft shop in same building - all profits go to
scrapstore, which supports children's projects all year round.Groups cannot sell on scrap unless they create new items from it (eg
stuffed toys or cushions from scrap fabric; coffee tables from donated wood and
tiles; puppets from corks, string, felt) to fundraise for their
project/organisation. Acts as a feeder for smaller scrapstores locally, who may
collect excess free. Customers can request scrap, which the store will try to
hunt down, perhaps by swapping with other scrapstores.Operates successful email newsgroup "scrapstore-news"
for scrapstores only, allowing information exchange on all issues
affecting scrapstores and resource centres.Currently 71 members.Homepage
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scrapstore-news(Updated Apr 2003)

Recycling
and re-use facility opened in 2001 to complement existing reuse and recycling in
the vale and provide work opportunities for adults with special needs.Scrapstore operational from Sep 2003, open Mon and Wed 10am-3pm.
Supplies non-toxic reusable
waste from local companies such as paper, card, plastic, fabrics, wood, string, small
non-ferrous metal sheet, and other odds and ends, for art and craft use by local playgroups, schools,
colleges and artists, for a donation. Also recycles foil and cans; and
refurbishes gardening and woodworking
tools for use in poor nations. Staff
and volunteers collect waste materials from local firms, RAF Halton, voluntary
groups, schools, foil banks, and bins at four community recycling sites, then
bring them to the centre for sorting and processing.Foil and cans are crushed and sold to help fund the project.Tools are collected by local voluntary groups or donated by individuals,
cleaned, repaired and made up into kits to send abroad.Scrap is sorted for members to collect.ARRC is a Bucks County Council Project with financial support from Shanks
First, supported by SAVE (Support Aylesbury Vale Environment) and AVDC.(Updated Nov 2003)

Collection of clean commercial/industrial
wastes and scrap material suitable for any community group, including children's play and craft, in Wycombe
District
and surrounding area. Council service available to any community
group. Open 10.00-12.00 first and third Saturdays of each month (except
third Sat in Dec and first in Jan); or phone to arrange for any other times to
collect key, in which case two people must attend. If visiting for the
first time, please phone for time and directions. Annual fee
£6. (Updated Nov 2002)

Charitable association of over
1000 member groups using the scrapstore, including schools, playgroups,
nurseries, after-school clubs, registered child minders, adult education,
scouts, and church groups. In contact with about 100 businesses. Able to make use of large quantities
of industrial and commercial waste materials suitable for playgroups and school
craft work. Eight paid staff plus volunteers. Items wanted include production
off-cuts and surpluses, old and rejected stock, shop clearances, old promotional
material, clean paper and card, fabrics, foam, plastics and containers -
anything that's too good to throw away. Also small retail outlet for
members, selling craft and educational materials, toys, sports equipment,
stationery etc to encourage learning through play. (Updated
Nov 2002)

Mobile
servicecurrently operating one event a month, going out to community centres and
schools. Items on offer include paper, card, textiles (including fake fur
and fluffy materials) and plastics, among a range of typical scrapstore
materials. £1 per full carrier bag of items. Materials are
collected from donating local industry, businesses and organisations. Free
inclusion on mailing list and printouts of listed events available to anyone
interested. Events are advertised by posters and flyers through relevant
and participating venues. Experienced in running workshops and hoping to
operate more of these in the future. (Updated Nov 2002)

Anything
clean and reusable taken for use by members, who include schools, playgroups,
nurseries, scouts, guides, church groups, home educators.
Weekend workshops for members on how to make useful
things from scrap materials. Deals with
about 50 local businesses.Hope to buy die-cutting and badge-making machines,
which could be hired out to schools,
and to open
family memberships. One paid part-time staff member;volunteers from all walks of life, including disabled people. Funded
by council, bids and donations. Established about ten years. Open Mon, Tue, Thu
1000-1600, Wed 1600-1830, Fri 0900-1200.CompassIT
(RestoreIT)
next door, Tel 01733 237212
- see Computers, section 87.Restore
and CompassIT belong to Compass (Peterborough) partnership, also
including SOFA furniture reuse and recycling (see Furniture section 82); Community Shops for household necessities and
clothing (see sections on Furniture 82, and Electrical and electronic scrap 44); Credit Union banking; Step One employment, training and benefits advice; and Partnership House 'one stop shop' advice on welfare benefits, debt, employment and guidance training for Welland residents. (Updated
Feb 2004)

Community scrapstore and recycling centre, stocking wide
range of materials such as cardboard, foam, fabric, tubing. Members include
nurseries, playgroups, schools, and a wider type of membership is being sought.Yearly subscription, amount depends on group. As many free visits as
members like.Resource Centre in
same building, including environmental library, and meeting place for hire.Helped devise Brighton
Resource Centre's website/database. Open 9-5 Mon Thu, closes 4.30 Fri. (Updated
Apr 2003)

Not for profit scrapstore - a social enterprise collecting a wide range of items from local
businesses and residents, which would otherwise be thrown away. Run by
volunteers who give out materials to local schools, playgroups and others as art and craft materials.
Open Mon, Tue 10 - 2.30, Thu 12.30 - 2.30, Fri 1 -5.(Updated
Oct 2005)

Collects scrap materials from business and households and reuses it for
children's education and play activities. Anyone can join for a small fee
and use materials from the scrap shop, or bring clean, non-toxic
materials. (Updated
Oct 2005)

Co-ordinating group for national
network of schemes. The scrapstore is one of many different community schemes,
including workshops and shop with arts materials for sale or hire, housed at
City Works. From card to cones, paper to plastic, foam to fabrics - an extraordinary range of materials for everyone.
Collects over 180 tonnes of business waste every year to pass on to groups to re-use.
A bit like a supermarket, but feeding the imagination, and you can fill a trolley for
£7. Encourages children to be inventive and creative. Benefit from cheap materials
and do something positive for the environment. Open Tue 10-7, Wed, Thu
10-5. (Updated Nov 2005)

Probably
the biggest scrapstore operation in the UK, with regular deliveries from HGVs!Two vans on the road every day collecting from businesses.30 regular suppliers, some daily.Independent
charity with no outside funding sources.Any
non- toxic reusable materials taken for redistribution and reuse.Serves the whole community with an extensive range of
materials -
1500 member groups include schools,
childminders, arts groups, hospitals, old peoples homes, prisons, nurseries,
playgroups, parent toddler groups, embroidery groups and community groups of all
types.Sources and collects around 30 tonnes of non-toxic surplus material weekly.
This is collated, sorted, and prepared in a 'superstore environment' where members browse, select and take all they need.
Beneficial is a charity
with 4 units at different sites around Portsmouth, operating training and
horticultural schemes and serving the community on a wider basis.Administration headquarters and registered offices: The Beneficial Foundation, 2 Kent Street, Portsea, Portsmouth PO1 3BS, Tel 02392 733822, Fax 02392 786688.
See also
Portsmouth: Beneficial Green-Works, section 140 Furniture and
household goods. (Updated
Mar 2004)

Collects wide range of materials from about
50 local suppliers. Open for collection by members Mon, Tue and Thu 10am -
3pm, Wed 4 - 8pm - all times are school term only). Members
are mostly those who work with children - schools, youth clubs, toddlers,
playgroups, scouts, guides, and educational needs. Small shop for art and craft
materials. Runs occasional workshops on creating art from scrap. Can
hire badge machine, woodworking and clay kits. Part funded by
council and landfill tax. Volunteers welcome. (Updated
Sep 2005)

Charity collecting scrap materials
from local industries for creative use by families, schools, playgroups, youth clubs,
artists, craftspeople, and many other community groups. Runs art and craft workshops.
Financially supported
by Watford Council and staffed by volunteers. Materials include fabric, plastic,
perspex, components, mouldings, rope, foam, tubing, paper, board and newsprint,
ribbon, aluminium, paint, cane, wool and many others. Some businesses may make
savings in waste disposal costs by donating. Collects
scrap, any time - phone to make arrangements. Open Tue and Thu
14.00-16.30, Wed and Sat 10.00-12.30 for anyone to view and choose items.
Annual subscription
depending on size of group, from £10 for individuals to £75 for schools.
(Updated May 2002)

Collects clean, safe waste products
from local industries and businesses, usable as scientific or art and craft materials in schools.
Materials include: paper, card, corrugated plastic, foams, fabrics and many more.
For small annual fee, anyone may become a member of the scrapstore, then visit as often as
they like, to take what they need free from an array of diverse materials for craft and art projects.
Project run by Connect Club Charity, supported by Welwyn Hatfield Council.
Contact for further information, opening times and costs. (Updated
Oct 2005)

Thought to be the only scrapstore in Kent. Has
about 900 members ranging from pre- school requirements to all
other areas of education, arts, crafts, theatre, design, and light
engineering. Useful items and materials collected from all areas of
Kent and South London on a daily basis. Also works closely with charities
diverting much needed items from landfill to overseas aid. A search
facility operates for special items that if not in stock might be located.
Open Tue 1000-1600, Wed 1000-1800, and all other times by prior
appointment. £20 membership lasts until 2005.Scrap £5 per trolley.(Updated Nov
02)

Established
over 20 years. Collects materials on Fridays from businesses, organisations and
especially local manufacturers. Holds wide variety of materials including
everything
from the more unusual bouncy castle materials and toys to wood, plastics, paper,
card, fabrics, rolls, tubes and much more. Open Mon-Thu 1200-1600 for
collection by non-profit-making members - over 400 including
community, wildlife, environment, all educational establishments such as
schools, playgroups, creches, kindergartens, special needs groups, child minding
businesses and organisations, scouts and guides. Membership is a single annual
fee, covering all collections of materials for the entire
year with no other charges. Actively welcomes and encourages new
members. (Updated Nov
2002)

Receives redundant materials from local businesses for
re-use by schools
and playgroups.Membership for local schools, nurseries, scouts, associations
and other fundraising groups within north and west London.Open Tue 1030 -
1500,Wed 1400 - 1930,Thu 1030 - 1500. (Updated
Nov 2002)

The first scrap project to open
in London, running for 26 years. Educational charity collecting
paper, card, cloth, carpets, furniture and office furniture, books, plastics, etc and redistributes
including to schools, universities, nurseries, playgroups, and the
elderly. Open Mon 10.00-18.45, Tue-Thu 12.00-16.45. Closed Fri to
Sun. (Updated May 2003)

Not strictly a
scrapstore, but a not-for-profit
community business, collecting many items for recycling. Initiates
community recycling activities, Give or Take events. Environmental auditing and promotion of good environmental practice
in offices and service industries. Office paper,
confidential waste collection and recycling, and green office audits. Free
collection and redistribution of unwanted paint, under a Community Re>paint
scheme. Paint can be collected from from FRP premises Mon - Thu 10am to 4pm.
Computer recycling via ReUse-IT@FRP accepts unwanted computers,
peripherals and spares from both individuals and companies. Most are refurbished
and re-introduced back into the local community - others are dismantled and
recycled. Collected free within Waltham Forest area. Collection also of redundant computers, toner cartridges,cans, foil and plastic cups.Sale
of recycled goods such as papers, office stationery and fair trade tea and
coffee - also order online.
Organises
'give and take days' offering free exchange of furniture and household goods.6 staff, 20 volunteers. (Updated Apr 2006)

Voluntary charity organisation
collecting materials from local
businesses (not domestic waste). Mainly fabrics, plastics, paper and card - must
be clean and reusable, for distribution as environment-friendly art and craft materials.
Substantial savings on a wide range of unusual and useful materials for art,
creativity, education and play, for those who join - schools, nurseries, community groups,
adult students. Two visits can cover the cost of membership. Open to
any group with non-profit, charity or educational objectives - varying rates.
Active and popular workshop programme on creative reuse, linked to curriculum, cultural and craft
topics. Open Tue 1130-530, Thu 1030-130 and 230-530. (Updated
Sep 2005)

An Aladdin's Cave of
children's play and educational resources.Materials donated from businesses
mainly in the local area butswap UK-wide
with other scrapstores.Pay nominal rate for pallet of coloured foam.Scrapstore and shop (arts & crafts) open Mon 1-7, Tue-Fri 10-2.4000 members - various fees for different groups.Offer equipment for hire such as inflatable castles and large earthballs,
funballs and badge machines at nominal charge to members.Runs workshops for children and adults on creative ways to re-use
materials. Grumpy House has a 'UK Online Centre' for children to learn
and play on computers, with guidance available, open Mon 10-7pm, Tue-Fri 10-5.Also online quiz
events. (Updated
Apr 2003)

Children's
charity (also
working with people in education up to 19) with 2300 member groups, serving
whole Tees valley, "like Blue Peter on an industrial scale",
delivering low cost resources in an area of multiple deprivation, and
campaigning on health issues. (Schoolchildren make models of snapping crocodiles
with bright white teeth to emphasise dental awareness.)Runs workshops for children and adults, giving training on re-use of
materials, and switching people on to recycling.Non-hazardous waste is revitalised: stencils from plastic
wallets; cardboard cones to puppets; foam off-cuts to dinosaur skin.Includes Community Re>Paint scheme, providing surplus paint from DIY
retailers free for community.Worked
with over 10,000 children in 2002, in association with Middlesbrough Children's
Fund and Sure Start. Won Tees Valley Business Award Environmental section - only
scrapstore ever to have won this. Held
National Scrap Swap day on 5 Sep 2003.(Updated
Sep 2003)

MIDDLESEX - STAINES
Spelthorne Resource Centre
Tel 01784 461769Email leisure@spelthorne.gov.ukStaines Park, Commercial Road, STAINES, Middx TW18 2QJContact
Susannah Colgate, Manager, or Gaye SmithBuilding within Staines Park, centre open
10-12 Mon -Tue, 4-6 Thu, 2-4 Fri, 10-1 Sat.Education or profit-making groups £36, non-profit £20 (eg nurseries,
playgroups) families £8 (includes childminders and those who teach them,
teenagers doing projects at colleges).Runs a toy library for children with special needs and a
shop for cheap art & craft materials. Rents
out free 'parachutes' for children's assault course games, beanbags.No collection, but has arrangement with Portsmouth scrapstore (see MBCU
under Hants) who provide some of the materials, as well as receiving donations from
local companies and schools and from WWF. Compiling
a list (maybe a database) of things to make.Runs Saturday morning workshops on how to paint and use materials
creatively, ages 3-7, or 8-11.Making
themselves known to a wider area to meet need.
(Updated
5 Dec 2002)

Charity collecting scrap from businesses and organisations, which is then
picked up from Mini-Scrapbox
especially by voluntary groups, schools, playgroups, scouts, and community
artists who benefit especially from the specialist materials. Incorporated
with Community Re>Paint Norfolk (established Apr 2002)
in association with B&Q Norwich acting as drop-off point. This covers the whole
county from the same address (see section on Charity and Community
Schemes). Materials include anything and everything which is safe
especially for technology, arts, drama and crafts. Specialisms include
acetates (for making for example stained glass windows); book binding materials like
leatherette; and zips. More common materials include wallpaper, remnants,
fabrics, elastics, tubes, card, paper, plastics, and containers. Active in
swapping
or exchanging excess materials, and networking with other charities, community
and voluntary groups, related bodies, organisations and local authorities. Open Wed 1500-1900, Sat 1000-1400, or by
appointment, for members to choose and buy or for materials to be dropped
off. Annual membership £7.50. Established 1995. Re-use Us,
the scrapstore at
Swaffham (Tel 01760 722717), is linked and an offshoot. (Updated
Apr 2003)

Registered charity and limited company. Collects free from around 50
industry, businesses and organisations within Northants and surrounding
areas. Strapline 'Turning Waste Things Into Playthings'. Runs
programme of wide ranging workshops. Wishes to expand links by extending
this operation to businesses, encouraging good environmental practices and
demonstrating the versatility of businesses' waste products. Encourages
waste management evaluation. Will take all types of good quality reusable materials,
by-products, factory over-production, seconds, remnants. Materials
collected and available include 'card, paper, boxes, tapes, fabric, plastics,
tubing, sacking, bubble wrap, cones, bobbins, flags, foil, buttons, tapes,
sponges, bindings and much more'. Their Stock Shop also cheaply offers a
wide range including quality paints, glue, felts, brushes, scissors, etc, most
under £3. These are used
to provide children, and children and adults with special needs, with the chance
to expand their educational and creative experiences. 275 member groups,
with potential to reach 45,750 people in community and voluntary groups,
schools, nurseries, playgroups and many others. Operates a system of
swapping surplus materials between organisations and operations around the
country. Networks with other organisations, for example Furniture Turnaround in Corby
(see sections 82 and 350). Currently the only scrapstore in Northants, but
involved in trying to obtain funding for a pilot branch in Northampton.
Open to members to collect Wed 0930-1615, Thu 0930-1715, Fri 0930-1615,
virtually all year round. Annual membership according to
member's financial situation or size of school, minimum fee (eg
voluntary groups) £33.50 per annum - a one-off payment giving access to free
materials for the year. Comprehensive free information leaflets. (Updated Nov 2002)

Collects free and delivers (for
a small charge) card, fabrics, tiles, ribbons, paper, cardboard boxes, plastics,
leather, timber and all available materials. Operates educational
services: workshops, factsheets and information on how to make things
using different materials; and a library. Open for deliveries Mon-Tue
and Thu-Fri 0930-1700, Wed 0930-1830;
collections Wed 1300-1830 and Thu 1030-1730 only. Was previously called
Community Scrap Scheme. (Updated Nov 2002)

Non-profit
organisation with over 1000 members, supplying about half the schools in S Wales
and over half the under fives groups.Members
(various rates) include families, students, schools, leisure and community
centres, churches, playgrounds, play groups, crèches, arts and environmental
groups, community education teams, hospitals, adventure playgrounds, scouts and
guides, playgroups, special needs and other community groups.Over 100,000 children are among the beneficiaries.Collects clean, non-toxic materials safe to re-use from over 50 firms at
their convenience.Website lists very wide
range of surplus materials from local firms, cut price art and craft materials,
play equipment for hire, and various information services including advice to
organisations on set up, development and legislation.Members pay from 1/10 to 1/5 of the normal price for materials
(most under £5), saving the community several hundred thousand pounds a year.Open Tue, Wed, Thu 1000 to 1700,Fri, Sat 1100 to 1600.Mail
order service. (Updated
Apr 2003)

Variable annual subscription according to
size and type of group. Members can take materials free, one visit a day
during the 3 days a week Alchemist is open, 50 weeks a year. Materials
are set out clearly and well-presented.They
include wood, buttons,
paper, mirror card, card, fabric off-cuts, plastics, adhesives
and paint, among a wide assortment of interesting and unusual remnants from industry.Materials (safe, clean) collected from donors (mainly businesses
across the region) at mutual convenience. No furniture or electrical
goods. Available
for talks and presentations to schools on the value of re-use.400
groups benefiting 60,000 individuals. Members
include pre-schools, schools, colleges, universities, day centres, scouts, guides,
art groups, childminders, churches, hospitals, asylum groups, Royal Society for the Blind, and other
groups representing a diverse cross section of society. Open Tues
12-5pm, Wed 10-2pm, Thu 1200-645pm (last admission 6pm). No children under
11 due to insurance. (Updated
Mar 2004)

Assists over 250 community
organisations involved in play, education and recreation, providing free
materials donated as redundant but useful waste items by commerce
and industry, which would otherwise go to landfill. In partnership with Swindon
QEST to support people with serious and enduring
mental health problems as volunteers and paid members of staff, in the
transition to open employment. Offers members an arts for crafts shop
which runs on a non-profit basis, and a repaint scheme for members
and non-members at the cost of £1 per year. (Updated
Nov 2002)